Marbleknot Design S + udio – Emilio Barbero - “ Bringing Geometry Back ”
CASA London : How did your career in art and design begin ? I ’ ve been designing since I was 14 . I sold my first logo , I wrote my first lines of code , and I ’ ve been designing ever since – twenty something years . I ’ m an interior designer by trade and I couldn ’ t find wallpaper that I liked , so I sent my designs to a manufacturer , and they seemed to like it . From there I started on the fashion side of things – ties , bowties , I have watches , and I did pillowcases for a very long time .
CASA London : Is fashion the current direction you ’ d like to continue in ? Yes , my main focus now is menswear . Right now I sell in a few stores , like From Mars and David E . White , and online , but I ’ m looking to get into more retail stores . In the mean time I am attending shows like the Gentlemen ’ s Expo in Toronto ( Nov 10-13 ) and showcasing my patterns in NYC in the New Year . I want to focus on men ’ s fashion . Men are quite conservative , they like blues and greys , but there are so many more colours !
CASA London : Who do you find is wearing your watches , pocket squares , bowties ? For the most part , I ’ d say it ’ s 25-40 year olds who like to dress up , like colour , and don ’ t mind a bold statement . I personally design my products for someone who wants to stand out and be a little bit different . I want to find those people and I want them to find me .
This is far from Emilio ’ s only project ; he is a creative entrepreneur and is driven to an extent that some people might find overwhelming to consider in their own lives . His passion is clearly his driving force . But amongst the various projects and understandably hectic schedule , his drive and clarity shine through . I can imagine his hectic workload would take a toll on many people , yet Emilio seems almost excited by the prospect , it puts a spring in his step and pushes him to succeed .
I run 3 design studios – graphic design , interior design and Marbleknot .
CASA London : Is designing for Marbleknot your favourite job of the three ? This is more like a hobby that I would like to become full time . I ’ d love to see my designs be mass produced and in stores nation-wide . This is my creative outlet , I want to be the next Jonathan Adler .
Jonathan Adler is a potter ( not the wizard ), designer , and author from New Jersey , who has grown his business from a small ceramic collection in 1993 to a huge chain of home furnishing stores ! He has forayed into writing , interior design , and often makes television appearances . Not a bad idol to have !
CASA London : How would you describe your style ? My style is upbeat , colourful , and vibrant , with lots and lots of contrast . I don ’ t wear anything black , I ’ m not against it , but there ’ s so many colours out there . I want to try them all .
CASA London : Do you think there is a big market for the kind of products you want to produce ? It ’ s there ; it definitely exists . There are people like me who want to dress well . So hopefully we can find them and bring them out ! I ’ m looking for people that aren ’ t afraid of colour , and want to find something new .
CASA London : So what ’ s the goal for your designs ? The main goal is to change the world , to have an impact on people ’ s lives , and to make people happy .
CASA London : Then it ’ s not about money for you ? Money ’ s not my God ; it is a motivator , but I want to be happy . I want to make an impact .
CASA London : There are a lot of places in the world synonymous with fashion and design . But , for all of its beauty and charm , London isn ’ t exactly known as a fashion capital . So , why London ? Why not New York , Paris , Milan , or even Toronto ? I didn ’ t pick London ; it was luck . I ’ ve always wanted to be in Toronto , to be in a bigger and more dynamic city , but here I am . I have clients all round the world - in Spain , Mexico , the Philippines , the USA , and the UK . You don ’ t need to be the best dressed guy in the world to wear a bright jacket or shirt . I want to reach more bold people , more people who want to take a risk , and show them that London has style .
CASA London : Is there anything you haven ’ t done yet , that you would still like to try ? At the minute I do everything myself , all my designs , all my social media , all my coding . I even host everything myself . But I haven ’ t done any car or product design , and one day I ’ d like to work for Umbra or for Mooi . I ’ ve designed houses , commercial buildings , home products , fashion , jewelry , and there ’ s so much that I could still do ; so really I ’ m still working towards everything . I just do everything that I can !
CASA London : Do you have a specific creative process you use to come up with your designs ? I ’ m always working , creating , modifying , and sketching . There ’ s not a process per say . When it ’ s custom work I want to know what this person is about . It ’ s about understanding what people want . My goal is to offer them something funky , something different , something that will make them stand out . I did some custom work for the London Club , they asked me to do pocket squares for them . With the custom work I want a challenge – I want someone to come to me with an idea that makes me scratch my head . I want that challenge .
Working in three design studios , Emilio could certainly be called a creative ! His designs brighten up every room with their clean cut and vibrant colours , which seem to mirror his own passion and personality . You can check out more of his incredible designs on his website ( http :// www . marbleknot . com /) and watch his Facebook page for news on new products and shows .